Intro - ITR# 01-678
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From: San Diego
Intro - ITR# 01-678
Hello all!
I recently purchased a resurrected 2001 Phoenix Yellow DC2 ITR. Some of you may know the previous owner as "EM1 Loi" here on H-T. As such, I figured that it would be a good idea to get back on the forums after a 5 year hiatus (I would have used my old account, but its been banned? For inactivity? Not sure. But I digress...).
I was previously the original owner of a 2000 EM1 Civic Si. Bought it brand new in March of '00, and managed to keep it safe for over 5 years, at which point it was stolen on December 23, 2005 from a local mall as I was last minute x-mas shopping. I seriously loved that car, seeing as how I had put a lot of time, money, sweat and a little blood into it. Keeping the body and interior stock, I had added quite a bit to it over the years in the performance department. In it's final iteration the car had a '01 B18C5 short block (bought brand new from the Acura dealer), reworked B16A2 head, Skunk 2 Stage 2 cams, AEM EMS, J's CF intake, '98 spec JDM ITR header, RS*R EX-Mag cat-back, AEM big brake kit, & Tein coil-overs (and that’s just the short list).
Anyway, after playing around with 240s and MR2s for a few years, I decided to get another Honda. An S2000 would have been nice, but too much for me at the moment, so what else? Another EM1? A swapped EK? No. I wanted an unmolested (mostly anyway) ITR... and that’s what I found.
This specific R was a theft recovery, which Loi had picked up as a shell. He rebuilt it using all OEM parts (most of which were brand new), had a fresh professional respray of its OEM Phoenix Yellow paint, and rebuilt a healthy motor to stick in it ('98 JDM B18C using CTR pistons) mated to a JDM ITR transmission. Other than that, (plus a Toda flywheel, aftermarket clutch, custom 2.5" exhaust w/ DC5 ITR muffler, Injen intake, and a chipped P28) the car is basically stock from the ground up.
Quite honestly, I am rather happy with it's performance as it (and we all know how quickly that goes out the window). The only plans I have in the works (for the time being) would be to find some black DC5 ITR seats, a JDM ITR steering wheel, JDM ITR shift ****, & ES motor mount inserts (terrible wheel hop in 1st with this thing)... and maybe a quality short shifter, but having one in the EM1 turned me off to them due to an annoying metal on metal vibrating noise.
After that, perhaps in 1+ years time I will add pieces such as upgraded brakes (and larger 16" wheels to house them, I'm thinking gunmetal TE-37s or CE-28Ns), a beefier than stock suspension (I will eventually want to auto-x this vehicle, and also want to close up some of that stock wheel gap), and either cams or a very conservative FI setup (I’m thinking JRSC w/ the stock pulley).
In any case, the car is putting down ~190WHP at the moment, and that’s just fine for now. In fact, it’s making just about as much power as my old EM1 did when it was stolen.
Also, when I am not so lazy, Ill post pics.
Oh, and one more thing. The only thing this car is lacking (other than a stereo) is TRACTION. These 195s aren't cutting it. How wide of a tire will the stock ITR rims accommodate?
I recently purchased a resurrected 2001 Phoenix Yellow DC2 ITR. Some of you may know the previous owner as "EM1 Loi" here on H-T. As such, I figured that it would be a good idea to get back on the forums after a 5 year hiatus (I would have used my old account, but its been banned? For inactivity? Not sure. But I digress...).
I was previously the original owner of a 2000 EM1 Civic Si. Bought it brand new in March of '00, and managed to keep it safe for over 5 years, at which point it was stolen on December 23, 2005 from a local mall as I was last minute x-mas shopping. I seriously loved that car, seeing as how I had put a lot of time, money, sweat and a little blood into it. Keeping the body and interior stock, I had added quite a bit to it over the years in the performance department. In it's final iteration the car had a '01 B18C5 short block (bought brand new from the Acura dealer), reworked B16A2 head, Skunk 2 Stage 2 cams, AEM EMS, J's CF intake, '98 spec JDM ITR header, RS*R EX-Mag cat-back, AEM big brake kit, & Tein coil-overs (and that’s just the short list).
Anyway, after playing around with 240s and MR2s for a few years, I decided to get another Honda. An S2000 would have been nice, but too much for me at the moment, so what else? Another EM1? A swapped EK? No. I wanted an unmolested (mostly anyway) ITR... and that’s what I found.
This specific R was a theft recovery, which Loi had picked up as a shell. He rebuilt it using all OEM parts (most of which were brand new), had a fresh professional respray of its OEM Phoenix Yellow paint, and rebuilt a healthy motor to stick in it ('98 JDM B18C using CTR pistons) mated to a JDM ITR transmission. Other than that, (plus a Toda flywheel, aftermarket clutch, custom 2.5" exhaust w/ DC5 ITR muffler, Injen intake, and a chipped P28) the car is basically stock from the ground up.
Quite honestly, I am rather happy with it's performance as it (and we all know how quickly that goes out the window). The only plans I have in the works (for the time being) would be to find some black DC5 ITR seats, a JDM ITR steering wheel, JDM ITR shift ****, & ES motor mount inserts (terrible wheel hop in 1st with this thing)... and maybe a quality short shifter, but having one in the EM1 turned me off to them due to an annoying metal on metal vibrating noise.
After that, perhaps in 1+ years time I will add pieces such as upgraded brakes (and larger 16" wheels to house them, I'm thinking gunmetal TE-37s or CE-28Ns), a beefier than stock suspension (I will eventually want to auto-x this vehicle, and also want to close up some of that stock wheel gap), and either cams or a very conservative FI setup (I’m thinking JRSC w/ the stock pulley).
In any case, the car is putting down ~190WHP at the moment, and that’s just fine for now. In fact, it’s making just about as much power as my old EM1 did when it was stolen.
Also, when I am not so lazy, Ill post pics.
Oh, and one more thing. The only thing this car is lacking (other than a stereo) is TRACTION. These 195s aren't cutting it. How wide of a tire will the stock ITR rims accommodate?
Last edited by PYITR678; Feb 22, 2010 at 04:28 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: San Diego
Re: Intro - ITR# 01-678
I switched the checkered floor mats for the black versions, and the seller took the JDM shift **** and replaced it with the leather USDM ITR ****.
He also replaced the USDM vent inserts, window controls, and interior door handles with JDM faux CF versions:
He also replaced the USDM vent inserts, window controls, and interior door handles with JDM faux CF versions:
Keep us updated on what you do with her Trending Topics
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From: CA
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: CA
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